About Nutrigenomics
The Nutrigenomics Center Varna is a newly founded facility by Grant #DRI-10 of the Bulgarian National Science Fund and the Ministry of Education and Science, with expertise in the fields of health, nutrition and environmental protection. The results of its research, monitoring, modelling and risk assessment work are used to underpin policy-making on public health, food, safety and environment.
The Nutrigenomics Centre, one of the research units within the Medical University Varna and with a staff of over 30 researchers in the fields of nutrition, endocrinology, genetics, cell biology, neuroscience, pediatric gastroenterology, chemistry, biochemistry, and public health, supports the governmental policy concerning nutrition and health through applied research. Assessment of dietary intake of the Bulgarian population is one of the basic activities. Additionally, the impact of nutrients, food products, supplements and/or eating patterns on the occurrence of beneficial or detrimental health effects is studied.
Research is especially focused on the most important causes of death in the Bulgaria, e.g.: cardiovascular diseases, cancer and obesity. Important examples of research topics are the effects of fatty acids, antioxidants, probiotics and plant foods on cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes, the role of interactions between diet and genetic factors in the metabolic syndrome, and functional foods in relation to health.
The Nutrigenomics Centre will start its work on the interaction between genetic susceptibility and lifestyle in 2007. In addition, the Centre is involved in several external collaborations such as: COST Action: Adipose Tissue: A Key Target for Prevention of the Metabolic Syndrome.
